Poultry crate



Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

sraes CHARLES J". EGGERT AND CORNELIUS L. BONHAN, 0F GALESBUB/G, ILLINOIS.

POULTRY CRATE.

Application filed January 31, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, (humans J. EGGERT and CORNELIUS L. BONHAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Poultry Grates, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention has reference to poultry crates, of that class which are used in transporting chickens and other fowls from one place to another, and the chief purpose thereof is to increase the efliciency and durability of such devices. At the present time chickens are usually shipped in enclosures formed of wood, which are weakly constructed and easily broken, resulting in damage not only to the crate, but injury and loss to the contents thereof. In the shipment of the poultry in this manner by railroad the crates are subjected to very rough usage, and are frequently handled with-little regard for the preservation of the crate or its contents. The crates are piled on top of each other and thrown about in the same manner that baggage and express packages are usually handled. Chickens frequently stick their heads through the openings between the Wooden slats which form the top of a crate, and when another crate is placed thereon, the chickens are killed.

It is the object of the present invention to form the crate entirely of metal of a special construction, and with the parts put together in such a way as to be practically indestructible. It is also built with special refereime to the custom of piling such crates one upon another, and also so as to withstand any bumps or knocks which may be received from other crates or boxes. It is also formed of material sufficiently light so.

as not to increase the weight of the structure over similar ones of wooden construction which are now in use, but, if anything, to reduce the weight thereof.

The invention is also more sanitary than the wooden crates, which contain crevices and other lodging places for vermin, the removal of which is difficult. It is constructed so that it can be given a thorough cleansing, when desired.

The above, and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understoodv from the following specification,

Serial No. 441,227.

reference beinghad to the drawings accompanylng the same, in which-- Fig. l is a top plan view of the invention. a Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a detail of one of the end plates 2.

The frame of the crate is formed of two rectangular side pieces 1, formed of continuous pieces. of angle-plate, rigidly united at one corner, as by rivetinp or welding. The ends of said frames are united at top and bottom by cross-pieces, as shown at 2, also formed of angle-plate. At a central point the frame thus constructed is reinforced by an angle-plate brace 3, extending across the top and down the sides of the frame. The sides of theframe are closed by strips 4:,

preferably in the form of, rods, which pass through the flanges in the ends of the frames 1, and have their endsupset so as to form rigid union with the frame. The rods 4 also pass through openings inthe flange of the brace 3, as shown in Fig. 3, and may be given a rigid connection with the brace by means of solder or similar material, introduced into the openings around the rods.

The top of the crate is provided at the sides with similar rods 5, also secured at their ends in the angle-plates 2, and passing through the brace 3. In the central part of the top are short rods 6, held at their outer ends in the cross-plates 2, and at their inner ends in the inwardly turned flanges of angle-plates 7, secured at their ends in the frames 1. ()penings are left on each side of the brace 3, between such, brace and the bars 7, which openings are normally closed byrgates formed of end-pieces 8 and rods 9 uniting the same. Such gates are held from accidental movement by means of a double catch 10 fixed to the brace 3. The plates 8 have a hinge connection at one end with one of the rods 5, and a loose engagement with the rod 5 at the other side of the opening; By this means, after the gate has been released from the catch, it can be tipped sideways, if desired, or can be slipped along the bars until the opening has been cleared. The openings are made use of for putting the poultry into the crate or removing the same therefrom.

The ends of the crate are closed by rods 11, passing tl'lIOUgll the ends of the frames 1, and secured therein in the same manner as the rods 4. Similar rods 12 are also secured in the brace 3, dividing the crate into two compartments. The sides of the crate are also given additional protection by means of bars 13 attached thereto at a point midway the top and bottom thereof. The lower ends of the brace 8 are united by a flat plate 1 1, and a floor is formed of strips 15, supported on the plate 1 1 and the angle-plates 2 uniting the frames 1 at the bottom thereof.. One of said plates is shown in Fig. 4 as being provided with a channel 16 through which the strips can be removed for the purpose of cleaning. Just above the floor is strip of wire netting 17 of fine mesh, upon which the fowls are supported when the strips are withdrawn.

The rods on the top of the crate are preferably given a narrower spacing than those at the sides and ends, so as to prevent the fowls from putting their heads out between the rods.

It will be seen that the top of the crate is strongly reinforced, so that the same will be able to support a considerable weight. The corners of the f 'ame may be reinforced by plates 18, riveted to the frame at each end, whereby any danger of the frame twisting at the corners will be overcome. The bars 13 afford aconsiderable protection at the sides, and can also be used as handles in conveying the crate.

By forming the frame and connecting rods of metal of a suitable degree of lightness and toughness, a crate can be produced which can be as easily handled as the wooden ones now in use, and the life of which will greatly exceed that of the wooden ones. As hereinbefore mentioned, it will be practically indestructible.

By having the crate formed with two compartments the same can be used for shipping two kinds of fowls at the same time, if desired, and it is also easier to get at the fowls to remove them from the crate.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a poultry crate, an angle-plate frame formed of a pair of continuous sideframes and end-pieces uniting the same; an angle-plate brace centrally of said frame; spaced-apart rods passing through the flanges of said side frames at the ends thereof and through the flange of said brace, and i gidly united with said side-frames; spaced-apart rods enclosing the ends of said crate, and rigidly connected with the ends of said frame; spaced apart rods enclosing the top of said crate and provided with :1

central opening; a closure for said opening; and a suitable floor for said crate.

2. In a poultry crate, an angle-plate frame formed of a pair of continuous side frames and end-plates uniting the same; an angleplate brace centrally of said frame; spaced apart rods passing through the end flanges of said side-frames and forming side enclosures therefor; spaced-apart rods passing through the side flanges of said side frames and forming end enclosures therefor; spaced apart bars forming a top for said crate, rigidly connected with said frame, and pro vided with a suitable opening, said bars being closely spaced, to prevent passage of a fowls head therethrough; a closure for said opening; braces on the sides of said crate, longitudinally thereof; cornenplates attached to said frame; and a suitable floor for said crate.

3. In a poultry crate, an angle-plate frame formed of a pair of side frames, and connecting end plates; an angle-plate crossbrace centrally of said frame; spaced-apart rods passing through the flanges of said side plates and cross-brace, and rigidly connected therewith; spaced-apart rods uniting the side flanges of said side frames and forming end enclosures therefor; spacedapart rods forming an enclosure for the top of said crate, and provided with openings on opposite sides of said cross-brace; closures for said openings; spaced-apart rods uniting the sides of said cross-brace, and

separating said crate into two compartnents; and a suitable floor for said crate.

4:. In a poultry crate, an angle-plate frame formed of a pair of continuous side frames and end-plates uniting the same; an angle-plate brace centrally of said frame; spaced-apart rods uniting the flanges of said side frames and said cross-brace, and enclosing the sides of said frame; spacedapart rods uniting said frames at their ends and forming end enclosures therefor; crossrods uniting the sides of said brace; dividing the crate into two compartments; spaced. apart rods forming an enclosure for the top of said crate, rigidly connected with the frame, and provided with openings on opposite sides of said brace; a floor formed of strips removably supported in said frame; a wire netting strip supported above said floor, and means for closing the openings in said top, when not in use.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

CHARLES J. EGGERT. CORNELIUS L. BONI'IAN. 

